Effect of Acupuncture at HT-7 (Shenmen) and GV-20 (Baihui) on Anxiety and Cardiovascular Functions in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition that can cause persistent and excessive worry, leading to physical and emotional symptoms. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine practice, has been studied as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders, including GAD. Though acupuncture at HT-7 and GV-20 along with other acupuncture points reduce anxiety level, no study to our knowledge has examined the effect of acupuncture at HT-7 and GV-20 alone in GAD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of needling at HT-7 (Shenmen) and GV-20 (Baihui) acupuncture points on anxiety levels and cardiovascular function in patients with GAD.

Methods

A total of 60 participants ages 20-55 diagnosed with GAD were randomly assigned to either a study group or a control group. The study group received acupuncture at the HT-7 and GV-20 points, while the control group underwent breath awareness meditation in supine position. Both groups underwent 20 min of the practice daily for 10 days. Assessments such as Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score, blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) were performed before and after the intervention.

Results

Participants in the study group had a significant reduction in anxiety levels (P < .001) compared to the control group. No significant inter-group differences were observed in systolic BP (P = .686), diastolic BP (P = .998), or PR (P = .925).

Conclusion

The present study suggests that needling at HT-7 and GV-20 acupuncture points (20 min/session for 10 days) reduces anxiety levels without affecting cardiovascular function in younger and middle-aged patients with GAD.